C.3. Wesquage Pond Watershed
Wesquage Pond (suitable for river herring and white perch) is a coastal barrier lagoon in close proximity to Narragansett Bay. Because there limited saltwater intrusion, salinity levels range from brackish to fresh. Passage into barrier ponds requires either natural or manual breaching of the barrier beach at least twice annually at appropriate times. Springtime manual breaching will allow migrating adult alewives and white perch access to spawning areas and a fall breach will allow juveniles to exit the system. A cooperative agreement with the Bonnet Shores Fire District is established to maintain this passage method and should be maintained.
RI Wildlife Profiles Description Brackish Marsh.pdf
Fifteen Small Things that Make a Big Difference
Choose them all, or start with one. Every little bit helps.
1. Teach the children (and willing adults) in your life to understand, love, and respect our wild animals and special places. You don't need to be an expert; just share whatever is dear to you with those around you.
2. Make your property a habitat. Leave part of your yard wild and natural. lf it's already all lawn, consider replacing any portions that go unused with native plants. Natives can be beautiful and have co-evolved with the local wildlife. Consider providing water (make sure to keep it clean) and cover (brush piles, etc.). Waiting until fall to trim trees and shrubs or mow fields avoids a lot of damage to nests and dispersing young. See if you can convince your neighbors to follow your example. The arrival of new and beautiful birds and butterflies may even do the convincing for you!
3. Minimize the use of pesticides and fertilizers and look for products grown according to these same standards. Pesticides reduce food for birds by reducing insect diversity. Many chemicals harm wildlife, especially bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, and they often find their way into our local waters, causing algal blooms and pollution.
4. Encourage good stewardship throughout your community. lnsist that local authorities use wildlife-friendly practices in public spaces, Support wildlife habitat-friendly legislation and sound, science-based wildlife management. Know your local businesses and their practices. Consumers are very powerful, so vote with your dollars as well as at the ballot box!
5. Educate yourself and be an ingredient reader. Remember that everything we use, indoors and out ends up in our environment. From where we wash our cars, to the food we eat, to the laundry detergent we choose, we make choices every day that affect water quality for humans and wildlife. There are many natural ways of achieving your goals!
6. Keep dogs far away from wildlife. Respect signage that restricts or disallows pets. lt may seem disappointing to not be able to take your dog exploring, but they can cause a lot of problems for wildlife. Even when there is no signage, try to keep pets away from wildlife and their homes, especially during the breeding and nesting seasons. lf you do bring your dog, leash it when walking in areas with wildlife.
7. Keep cats indoors and have your pets spayed or neutered. According to the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), domestic and feral cats kill an estimated half a billion to one billion birds a year in the United States alone. Putting a bell on a cat may seem like a reasonable solution, but birds do not register a ringing bell as a warning sound.
8. Be informed and support local conservation. Conservation includes protecting natural areas in perpetuity, but it also means making sure that development that does occur is well planned, makes sense on the landscape, and is as people and wildlife-friendly as possible.
9. Never release any pets into the wild. Many people think it is harmless to drop aquarium fish, frogs, or turtles down at the local pond, but doing so introduces non-native species that can disrupt the existing ecosystem and may prove invasive. lt also may introduce diseases that are new to an area and that native species aren't equipped to fend off.
10. Be a waste watcher. Of course you should try to recycle as much as possible, but it's also important to reduce your waste in the first place! Avoid single use products and packaging as much as possible. Most of what goes into our recycling bins is not infinitely recyclable aid eventually become trash. According to the EPA, plastics and other marine debris cause direct harm to marine species, degrade habitat, harm tourism and fishing, and present a safety hazard for boats and humans.
11. Minimize light pollution and save on your energy bill while you save birds, bats, and other wildlife. Turn off outdoor lights and draw curtains/blinds at night, especially during peak migration seasons (spring and fall). Migrating and nocturnal birds rely on the moon, stars, and setting sun for navigation, and artificial lighting can attract these birds and cause them to collide with man-made structures. The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has stated that hundreds of millions of birds die each year from such strikes. Birds can also become confused by reflections on windows during the day. ABC's website has information on how to avoid bird strikes around the home, including treating windows so they don't fly into the glass. While birds are the best known example of how artificial lighting can harm wildlife, the natural rhythms of many plants and animals are disrupted by this type of pollution. Another example is the bugs that are drawn to outdoor light (and Bug Zappers!) and die. Less of these bugs means less butterflies and moths and less food for birds and bats. Bonus: Advocate for a "Lights Out" ordinance in your community or start a voluntary Lights Out pledge campaign.
12. Never feed wild animals. While responsibly feeding backyard birds is not harmful, feeding waterfowl and other wildlife encourages dependence on humans and the loss of their natural fear of us, which can be dangerous for both the animals and us. Also,
when animals' nutrient-dense natural diets are replaced with empty calories from human food, they can become sick and even spread some diseases to humans. Accordingly, feeding deer and waterfowl is illegal in Rl.
13. Be alert when you're in the car. Vehicle strikes are a major threat to a large number of Rhode lsland's wildlife species.
14. Be respectful and keep your distance. Make every effort to enjoy our local plants and animals in a manner that leaves both of you safe from harm. Most of the time people try to assist injured, sick or orphaned animals, they end up doing more harm than good. People often misunderstand the behaviors and cues of wild animals and end up causing stress or injury to animals that were not really in need of help. Additionally, even simple things like trying to get a great photograph can be hazardous to an animal that is stressed.
15. Don't pass on your prejudice. So you simply can't get over your fear of spiders, or snakes, or bats even though you know deep down that your fear is not grounded in fact? Try not to pass this fear on to your child, niece, or nephew. Instead of using words like "creepy" and "gross", encourage children's innate curiosity and love of the natural world. You can still teach them to keep a respectful distance. This way, you can feel good about doing your part to protect important critters even if you can't quite get past your own trepidation! You can also contact the Rl Wildlife Action Plan Community Liaison at amanda.freitas@dem.ri.gov
2014 Abstract Draft.indd - freshabs.pdf
2012 Waterbody Report for Wesquage Pond
Waterbody Quality Assessment Report | WATERS | US EPA